Editor’s note: Please see the bottom of this article for additional mental health resources.
Western’s Interim President Nancy Chisholm came before Western’s Student Government Association (SGA), Wednesday, April 23 to address the tragic death of Elijah Davidson, a Mountaineer student living in Mears Hall and studying Exercise and Sports Science. Davidson was also a member of Western’s Men’s Basketball team.
Opportunities for campus grieving sessions have been made available, and additional mental health resources will also be made available in the coming days and weeks.
President Chisholm’s full email to students can be found below:
Dear Western Community:
With heavy hearts and profound sadness, we share with you that we learned this morning of the loss of one of our own. Elijah Davidson was a sophomore in the Exercise and Sports Science program at Western, with a minor in Psychology. Elijah, who was from Rio Rancho, New Mexico, was on Western’s men’s basketball team and a resident of Mears Hall.
Elijah’s family has been notified, and we have no other information to share with you at this time.
Please join us in offering support and condolences to Elijah’s family and friends. This is heartbreaking for our Western community—when one of us hurts, we all do. Grief support for our campus community is being arranged and details will follow soon.
In the meantime, there are immediate services you can access. Should you need assistance in coping with this news, we encourage you to reach out to the 24/7 Crisis Services at 970.252.6220, text TALK to 38255. You can also call the Western Counseling Center at 970.252.3200 to schedule an appointment.
Students, you may access TimelyCare, Western’s new tele-health option:
- Create your free account by visiting timelycare.com/western or download the TimelyCare app at the App Store or on Google Play.
- Click “Sign in.”
- Create your profile using your @western school email address.
- Follow the prompts to start your first visit.
- Here is a Youtube tutorial video on it: https://youtu.be/nuO18O7plfg
We encourage you to utilize these services as needed, and please support each other as we grieve this tremendous loss.
In sadness,
Nancy
Below is Dean Gary Pierson’s email to students, with further details about Thursday’s grief event:
As a follow-up to the incredibly sad news from Dr. Chisholm, I wanted to make you aware of a grief counseling session for Western students, 12:30pm, Thursday, March 24, 2022 at the Paul Wright Gym. Please know this will be a time for you to share your support for one another while also allowing you to express your feelings in a safe environment.
In the meantime, there are immediate services you can access. Should you need assistance in coping with this news, we encourage you to reach out to the 24/7 Crisis Services at 970.252.6220, text TALK to 38255. You can also call the Western Counseling Center at 970.252.3200 to schedule an appointment.
As a follow-up to the incredibly sad news from Dr. Chisholm, I wanted to make you aware of a grief counseling session for Western students, 12:30pm, Thursday, March 24, 2022, at the Paul Wright Gym. Please know this will be a time for you to share your support for one another while also allowing you to express your feelings in a safe environment.
In the meantime, there are immediate services you can access. Should you need assistance in coping with this news, we encourage you to reach out to the 24/7 Crisis Services at 970.252.6220, text TALK to 38255. You can also call the Western Counseling Center at 970.252.3200 to schedule an appointment.
You may also access TimelyCare, Western’s tele-health option:
- Create your free account by visiting timelycare.com/western or download the TimelyCare app at the App Store or on Google Play.
- Click “Sign in.”
- Create your profile using your @western school email address.
- Follow the prompts to start your first visit.
- You can access TimelyCare on a 24/7 basis or schedule an individual counseling appointment.
- Here is a Youtube tutorial video on it: https://youtu.be/nuO18O7plfg.
We encourage you to utilize these services as needed, and please support each other as we grieve this tremendous loss. While this will be an extremely challenging time for our campus community, I also know that we have an amazing community of people that will be supportive, strong and resilient.
Please know I am here for you, however, whenever needed.
With much sadness,
gp
A list of resources for those in need:
- You or someone you know In Crisis? (FREE)
- Call 970-252-6220, the 24/7 Crisis Talk line
- Or Text TALK to 38255
- Peer Support Specialists (people with lived experience in mental health or substance use):
- Contact 970-596-0127 or 970-596-8182
- Western Counseling Center (FREE): Unlimited therapy for Western students:
- Go to Crystal 104 and tell them you would like to make an appointment or call 970-642-4615 to make an appointment
- Fill out the required paperwork
- Make several appointments in a row if you prefer to secure your schedule!
- Crested Butte State of Mind Therapy Scholarships (FREE)
- Go to https://cbstateofmind.org/learn-more/therapy-scholarships/Therapy Scholarships – Crested Butte State of Mind
- CB State of Mind is committed to making sure that our residents have access to mental health care and that means eliminating the barriers of cost, navigating the system, and connecting to the right service.cbstateofmind.org
- Click on Application Form
- Fill out an application
- Let Meghan Dougherty (mdougherty@cbstateofmind.org) know if you have any issues or need help applying
- Get paired with a good fit for a therapist
- Enjoy your therapy scholarship!
- Center for Mental Health (Not always free, can cost $):
- Call 970-252-3200 to set up an appointment
- Let them know you live in Gunnison
- Ask about insurance coverage and pricing
- Gunnison Valley Health Behavioral Health (Not always free, can cost $):
- Call 970-648-7128 to make an appointment or find options
- Project Hope: Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Resources, including therapy, support and connections:
- Call 970-641-2712 to set up an appointment or simply find out more
- Email info@hope4gv.org
- Additional resources can be found here under the mental health section: